Teams from schools in Royston and Buntingford had to solve a problem by building a piece of equipment capable of transporting radio active material into a specific area at the tournament, held on Wednesday at the Cambridge Motel, Shepreth.

Royston Rotary president Ray Munden said: “It always surprises me how innovative the youngsters can be in grasping the concept of the project and then putting it into a practical use.

“Everyone taking part has to be praised for the way they approached the project and came up with ideas to solve the problem they had been set.

Meridian, Roysia and Greneway schools from Royston took part, along with Freman College, Edwinstree and Ralph Sadlier schools from Buntingford.

Mr Munden added: “Rotary has been running the tournament for the past seven years and each year we see high standards which reflect positively on our local schools, the teachers and the students.”

The judges assessed each team on its planning, design analysis, design development and construction skills before the pieces of equipment were put to the test.

The winners of the foundation group were Meridian School I, with Roysia II second and Meridian II and Greneway II joint third while a team from Meridian took the prize in the Advanced Group.

However, the award for the most innovative design sponsored by Johnson Matthey went to a team from Roysia School.

The team was presented with the award by Debbie McGarrity, the Johnson Matthey site and community co-ordinator.

Each youngster taking part in the tournament was presented with a certificate by Royston’s mayor, Councillor Robert Smith.